whitesoxfan101

He's on all my fantasy teams for a reason. People are just now starting to catch on to this guy, but he's a freaking STUD. And the Francoeur comparisons are pretty silly. As Ethier continues to hit, he will draw more walks IMO. I've watched a lot of his at bats, and he's simply a guy that swings if he gets something to hit, and only then. The lack of walks is a product of the fact that everybody is pitching to him and the great numbers are due to him getting pitches to hit. As people become more respectful of him, I'd expect the average to perhaps go down, but the walk total to go up. Beane traded him due to lack of patience, but he's nowhere near as bad as Francoeur, who might be the only player I've ever seen that can end up with 30/110 and be an offensive liability.

Yeah I think it kinda depends how your season goes. When you have a magical season like we did last year or Detroit is this year, it kinda feels like you almost have to win it all or at least win the pennant because everything has gone your way, and it's difficult to have a season go that well again, no matter how good you are.

Defense and your ability to play it is the one thing that "crusty old scouts" are still needed for IMO. Statistical analysis in regards to pitchers and batting are very important, however the skills (or lack thereof) are something that for the most part you need to watch for yourself in order to decide. That is also why often times you can get big arguments as to how good a defender is or isn't, since stats are so deceiving in that regard.

Great game Javy, hopefully you can keep up not sucking ass for a while. Be nice if we could finally finish off a damn sweep, a 7-2 road trip is spectacular stuff if you can get it.

Well if the Tigers ONLY go .500 the rest of the year, they finish 100-62. So unless you plan on seeing the Tigers play several games under the rest of the way, and us winning 95 games, please join those of us whom are only zeroed in on the wild card. It's just a special year for Detroit.

QUOTE(Brian @ Aug 5, 2006 -> 02:43 PM) Im confused. He was caught having a high level of testosterone but no illegal substance in his system? I THINK the fact that he was caught with really high testosterone levels combined with the fact that it was synthetic (which can't be produced naturally in your system) proves he was cheating.

We better dominate the rest of our games with them, otherwise the defecit is too damned big.

Well after a rough start at Baltimore (and he did get a win) and a rough 1st tonight, Jon turns it around to toss 6 quality innings against a damn good offensive team and pick up a big road win. Jon is now 8-0 in his last 10 starts, with the team 9-1 in those games, and moved to 12-3 while getting his ERA below 5 all the way to.......4.99!! Way to bounce back Jon, you've been the stopper for nearly 2 months now and kudos to you for showing that you aren't a worthless piece of crap.

Somewhat OT, but anyway Sweeney might be ready to take a shot in LF for the big club next year, whether it be in April or maybe July if we made a trade that opened up a spot for him? Just curious, i'm not the expert that the people here are so I figured it was a good spot to ask.

We're defending champs and in the heart of a race, their defending chumps and dead in the sorry NL, and we're still a little behind. It shows how long a way we still have to go IMO. But the progress also shows it can be done.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Aug 4, 2006 -> 04:43 PM) Am I the only one that thinks WVU should be top 5? Anybody with a brain should, considering their schedule, returning talent, and what they did winning what was basically a road game vs. Georgia in their BCS game last year.

Cubs lose 6-0 at Wrigley to the Pirates, as Carlos Zambrano had his 9 game winning streak broken in an awful outing (which would have been worse if not for the wind). The Pirates got a combined 3 hitter from Tom Gorzelanny (8 IP, 2H) and Josh Sharpless, whoever they are. Actually, Gorzelanny is an Evergreen Park native and former Triton CC star apparently, who grew up a Sox fan. He was drafted in 2000 by us in the 38th round, but instead went to college for 3 years and made himself a lot of money (ended up going in the 2nd round in 2003).

There was also a football recruit from Naperville Central named John Porn last year who went to Dayton.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Aug 4, 2006 -> 03:07 PM) Also, nothing is happening here. In order for a move to be made all players involved must clear waivers. All players on the 40-man roster that is. The obvious end-around in a deal like this is to include highly valued prospects who have yet to be placed on the 40-man, of which the White Sox have 3, Sweeney, Broadway, and Fields. A bit off topic, but the fact that we wouldn't trade Fields makes me nervous about how confident we are in bringing back Crede. Either that or we think Fields can learn how to play left, but his numbers the last 2 months down at AAA make me nervous. Figured I'd bring it up since your the guy with the best blog on the net. /sucking up

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Aug 4, 2006 -> 03:04 PM) The Astros were in the low 90's before Clemens was added to the roster. Correct, he puts them right at 100 or slightly above it, based on who you believe.

Kyle Sackrider, Jim Bob Cooter, Phyllis Mangina, Richie Rich, John Mark Patrick, LeQuantum McDonald, and Knowledge Timmons.....meet Lucious Pusey Ok I can't take credit, I used http://therealests.blogspot.com/2006/07/co...-name-team.html and http://www.deadspin.com/sports/college-foo...usey-188653.php as my sources. Any EIU students here though?? Lucious Pusey is CLASSIC.

QUOTE(SouthsideNorthsideFan @ Aug 4, 2006 -> 03:18 AM) I wouldn't go that far...a drunken mind speaks a drunken brain moreso than any "truth"... How many times have people woken up the next day feeling like asses because they did something idiotic when they were drunk? Did that mean that's how they really are, sober? Not at all... I believe if you don't have the stones to say something sober, you must not really have the courage of your convictions. After all, what is the normal, sane human state - drunkenness? For most, not. right??? I don't drink, so I'm not involved in knowing personally my statement is true, it's just something I've learned over the years.

I really can't see it being an NL team that claimed him, based on needs and the fact that they wouldn't trade him to an east team. I think the Angels claimed him, I just doubt the Astros would spend that much more money since they are already over 100 million. Plus, the Angels have the horses to make this deal happen.

This year's NIU team might be the best one yet, including 2003. Unfortunately, the only 2 games we'll be underdogs in are at Iowa and OSU, neither of which I could see us winning. However, we SHOULD beat everybody else and head to Detroit for the MACC at 10-2.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 4, 2006 -> 11:45 AM) Javy Lopez has a better average than Varitek this year. Going into the Red Sox lineup will probably only help his stats. I'm not comparing Abreu/Lidle with Lopez, but thanks for putting those words into my mouth. My point is that two of our main opponents may have just gotten better. Lopez couldn't hold Varitek's jock. Varitek is having a terrible year, and still has more homers, RBI's, and a better OBP than Lopez. He's also a lefty of course and a better defender, so I'm not sure how much this move helps Boston, if at all.

QUOTE(Brian @ Aug 4, 2006 -> 11:39 AM) Michigan not in the top 10 is a joke. Did you watch them, or any of the teams in the top 10, play last season?? Although I do agree the polls come out too early.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 4, 2006 -> 10:27 AM) Yeah, it's just as bad a move as that spiffty Abreu/Lidle deal for the Yankees. That didn't make them better at all, either. Your comparing a washed up, off the juice catcher to Abreu and Lidle?? That's pretty silly, and although Abreu will help them, in the long run the Yankees will see the true (bad) Cory Lidle.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Aug 4, 2006 -> 10:14 AM) The Marlins are my second-favorite NL team, behind the Braves. My third favorite team overall. I love the way they know exactly who to target in terms of prospects. Weren't a lot of people expecting them to go after Rich Hill, instead of guys like Nolasco? You are correct on part 2. The Cubs really wanted to give them Hill in that deal, but the Marlins didn't fall for the hype of a 26 year old prospect with a bad fastball.

Well since I had to get up at 6 AM and am now wide awake, I looked up some things and found it interesting. Some offseasons Marlin moves.... Traded Mike Lowell, Josh Beckett, and Guillermo Mota for Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Harvey Garcia, and Jesus Delgado. Now I don't know much about Garcia and Delgado, but of course knowing Florida they are probably 2 top prospects or something. Mota was also a big part of the trade with Cleveland for Crisp, so I won't go there. But looking at the other 4 guys this year. Mike Lowell: .286 BA, .336 OBP, 13 HR, 54 RBI, 1 SB, 51 runs, .486 SLG, .822 OPS, 32 years old (3B) Josh Beckett: 13-5, 5.00 ERA, 26 years old Hanley Ramirez: .268 BA, .338 OBP, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 31 SB (T-3 in NL), 81 runs (5th in NL), .432 SLG, .769 OPS, 22 years old SS, leadoff hitter Anibal Sanchez: 4-1, 4.46 ERA, 22 year old SP, 5th in rotation Now Lowell has been solid for the Red Sox (great defender too), and despite the poop ERA, Beckett does have 13 wins and is only 26. But other than the fact the performance in this trade isn't a huge difference, keep in mind how much the Marlins saved. A TON. Then the Delgado for Jacobs lefty 1B swap: Carlos Delgado: .262 BA, .360 OBP, 26 HR, 72 RBI, 60 runs, .530 SLG, .890 OPS, makes 14 million (I think), 34 years old Mike Jacobs: .287 BA, .352 OBP, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 42 runs, .520 SLG, .871 OPS, 25 years old Now that's a good swap in itself, all things considered....but of course, the Marlins also got future stud (despite struggling a bit in a few outings earlier this year) pitcher Yusmeiro Petit in that deal, as well as another young guy Grant Psomos (no idea about him) Alex Gonzalez also went from Boston to Florida as a FA, but wasn't he a type A? Which I believe means 2 first round picks for Florida. Then of course, the Juan Pierre deal: Juan Pierre: .280 BA, .325 OBP, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 38 SB (2nd in NL), 53 runs, .379 SLG, .704 OPS....turns 29 in about a week and a half Ricky Nolasco: 9-7, 4.23 ERA, 23 years old, #4 (I think) in rotation Renyel Pinto: 0-0, 3.75 ERA, 12 IP out of pen, 24 years old, lefty Sergio Mitre: Been hurt most of the year, 1-4, 4.89 ERA, 25 years old And of course, Pierre makes 7 million this year AND is a FA after this year. Their closer, veteran Joe Borowski (1-2, 3.27 ERA, 22 saves) is a scrap heap pickup and really the rest of their pen and rotation full of young arms are draft picks (other than Willis of course) Wes Helms (.281 BA, .364 OBP, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 14 runs, .511 SLG, .875 OPS off bench) another scrap heap pickup Miguel Olivo has been another decent scrap heap pickup at catcher (.291 BA, .313 OBP, 12 HR, 40 RBI, 37 runs, .489 SLG, .802 OPS, age 28) Dan Uggla (.291 BA, .350 OBP, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 67 runs, 5 SB, .496 SLG, .846 OPS) as the 2 hitting everyday 2nd basemen. Only 26 and a freaking rule 5 pick And then, a lot of homegrown guys such as Cabrera, Willingham, Hermida, etc. And the scary part is, those are the just the moves made THIS offseason that I could find, and doesn't mention the bad luck they had with the injury to one of their top young arms Carlos Martinez.

His value is that he's a damned good 3rd basemen. I don't want to rank him "on the Sox" since that's difficult, but he's a guy that was must keep around. Unless you get David Wright or something, you can't really upgrade at 3rd if Crede isn't around.